PIB · Government of India ·

Directorate of Revenue Intelligence foils major cannabis smuggling bid, seizing 591 kilograms sourced from Nepal in Uttar Pradesh.

Distilled Policy Brief

  • The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 591.3 kilograms of cannabis (ganja) smuggled from Nepal during an intelligence-based operation in Uttar Pradesh on October 17-18, 2026.
  • The contraband was hidden inside specially fabricated secret cavities—one above the bonnet and another behind the driver's seat—of a intercepted truck traveling via Sonauli.
  • The entire consignment along with the transport vehicle was seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) functions under the Ministry of Finance and enforces anti-smuggling laws including the NDPS Act, 1985.

⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages

Cross-border illicit drug trafficking poses a severe threat to internal security, necessitating robust intelligence coordination, advanced inter-agency cooperation, and strict enforcement mechanisms.

🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill

Polity & Governance

Consider the following statements regarding a recent operation conducted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI): 1. The DRI seized over 500 kilograms of cannabis (ganja) smuggled from across the international border from Nepal. 2. The entire consignment and the transport vehicle were seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • [A] 1 only
  • [B] 2 only
  • [C] Both 1 and 2
  • [D] Neither 1 nor 2
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
✓ Correct Option: [C] Both 1 and 2

Both statements are correct. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 591.3 kilograms of cannabis smuggled from Nepal in Uttar Pradesh during an operation on October 17-18, 2026. Furthermore, the contraband and the truck used for transport were seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

Tark High-Yield Question Bank ⚡ Practice Full Test in Testing Arena ↗

🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)

UPSC Prelims 2021

Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.

Forensic Anchor: Cabinet Allocation of Business Rules & NCAP Framework
Examiner Trap Takeaway: UPSC swapped Central Pollution Control Board role with State Pollution Control Boards for state-level monitoring.

📚 Static Syllabus & Constitutional Linkages

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985: Core legislative framework in India prohibiting the production, manufacture, possession, sale, purchase, transport, and use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI): Apex intelligence agency of India under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Ministry of Finance, responsible for anti-smuggling operations.